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James Debono
A survey conducted by sister newspaper MaltaToday reveals that the absolute majority of Gozitans are financially worse off this year.
While 70.4 per cent report an erosion of purchasing power only 3.2 per cent claim they have more disposable income.
The survey reveals lack of employment opportunities tops the list of concerns of Gozitan respondents.
The state of the roads, environmental degradation and the decline in tourism emerge as the other major concerns of the Gozitan community.
The survey conducted among Gozitan residents will be published in its entirety next Sunday in MaltaToday.
Despite the generally bleak outlook, Gozitan support for one of the major policy planks of the Gonzi administration is high with 54.1 per cent supporting the introduction of the Euro in 2008.
The survey also shows that 16 per cent of Gozitans use the Gozo channel service more than once a week, with seven per cent using it every day during working days.
The helicopter service has not alleviated the Gozitan problem of double insularity with 95 per cent claiming that they have never used this service.
While a majority favour a bridge linking the two islands, Gozitans are equally divided on whether an airport should be developed to link the two islands by air.
The survey also confirms a resurgence of environmental consciousness in Gozo, with the majority opposing a golf course in Ta’ Cenc and supporting the abolition of Spring hunting.
From the survey, Gozo emerges as a staunch bastion of Roman Catholic values with overwhelming majorities against the introduction divorce and gay marriages.
The full results of the survey-which includes Gozitan voting intentions in a forthcoming general election as well as their trust in political leaders will be published in next Sunday’s issue of MaltaToday.
A total of 538 respondents were randomly chosen from the Gozo section of the directory with 314 accepting to be interviewed.
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